ELECTIONS & VOTINGChapters 7, 8, & 9

THE ELECTORAL PROCESS

Chapter 7

• The nominating process is a key part of an election because it narrows the field of possible candidates

• Five Ways to Nominate Candidates:

THE NOMINATING PROCESS

Self-Announcement A person declares him or herself to be a candidate

Petition A candidate gets a certain number of qualified voters to sign a petition

Caucus A group of like-minded people meet to select candidates

Convention A political party’s members meet to select candidates

Direct Primary An election is held within a party to pick its candidatesCandidates in most States are now nominated in direct primaries.

• The detailed procedures that govern the casting of votes for elected officials help ensure a democratic way of life.

• Election Procedures

ELECTIONS

The Basics of Election Procedure• Elections are largely governed by State law• Aspects of national elections such as dates are governed by federal law• Voting takes place in voting districts called precincts• Within the precincts, voters cast their votes at polling places• A ballot is used to register a person’s votes• Most States use a form of the Australian ballot – either an office-group ballot or a party-column ballot

Election procedures are clearly established by State law and, in some regards, federal law as well.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=election+day+precincts&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=vwsdpjhdYh757M&tbnid=ay41toMYtItoCM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/Ken-Walshs-Washington/2012/11/06/election-day-and-the-secrets-of-americans&ei=QPkzUdnYNoi-9QT2lYDgDw&bvm=bv.43148975,d.eWU&psig=AFQjCNG0HtHWqrZ3mMJGd10-uv985YTdkA&ust=1362447015540467

• The use of money, a needed campaign resource that poses a variety of problems, is regulated in today’s elections.

• Political Campaign Money

MONEY & ELECTIONS

Political Campaign Money

contributions

publi

c

subsidies

State

Treas

uries

Fede

ral

treas

ury

priva

teind

ividu

alsfam

ilies

Cand

idates

themse

lves

PACs Fede

ral El

ectio

n

Commiss

ion

Regulates federal elections

Does not regulate soft money

Does regulate hard money

Campaign money comes from both public and private sources and is regulated by the Federal Election Commission

MASS MEDIA AND PUBLIC OPINIONChapter 8

• Several factors, including family and education, help to shape a person’s opinions about public affairs

• Factors That Shape Public Opinion

THE FORMATION OF PUBLIC OPINION

Mass media

education occupation

Historic events

race

Opinion leaders Peer

groups

family

PUBLIC OPINION

Many factors play a part in shaping public opinion

• Of the methods for measuring public opinion, polls are the most effective

• Measuring Public Opinion

MEASURING PUBLIC OPINION

PUBLIC OPINION

• Random sample• Quota sample

Indicators of public Opinion

Accurate Measures of Public Opinion

Election

results

Interest

Groups

Media Personal

Contacts

Scientific Polling

• The media are our most important sources of political information

• The Mass Media

THE MASS MEDIA

Mass Media tele

visi

on radi

o

Othe

r m

ediaInterne

t

videocassettes

audiocassettes

filmsbooks

newspaper

s

magazines

The many forms of mass media greatly impact American politics.

INTEREST GROUPS

Chapter 9

• Interest groups offer Americans an important means of influencing U.S. public policy

• Are Interest Groups Good or Bad?

THE NATURE OF INTEREST GROUPS

INTEREST GROUPS

Positives Negatives1. Help stimulate interest in

public affairs2. Are based on shared

views, not shared geography

3. Provide information to government

4. Keep tabs on government5. Can limit each other’s

extremes

1. Can have more influence than they deserve

2. Difficult to figure out how many people they represent

3. Some do not represent the views of all the people for whom they claim to speak

4. Some engage in dishonest behavior

The political power of interest groups is viewed both positively and negatively.

• Interest groups are formed around many issues, such as public interest and economics

• Types of Interest Groups

TYPES OF INTEREST GROUPS

PURPOSE EXAMPLETo promote business American Bankers AssociationTo organize labor Fraternal Order of PoliceTo protect agricultural interests National Farmers UnionTo promote professions American Medical AssociationTo promote social programs Veterans of Foreign WarsFor religious purposes American Jewish CongressFor the public good League of Women Voters

Interest groups work for an array of public policies that benefit their members.

• Interest groups use propaganda, form political action committees, and engage lobbyists in order to influence public policy.

• Techniques Used by Interest Groups

INTEREST GROUPS AT WORK

Techniques Used by Interest Groups to

Achieve Their Goals

PropagandaPersuasive techniques aimed at influencing

individual and group behaviors to create certain beliefs

PACsPolitical action committees that work for or against political candidates and may make

campaign contributions

LOBBYINGBringing pressure to bear on all aspects of

the making of pubic policy

Interest groups use various techniques to influence public opinion, political parties, and the making of public policy